The Franklin Flyer
November 10, 2023
January 24, 2025
Mark Your Calendars:
January 30: PTA - International Spirit Day & International Night - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
January 20: No School
February 6: PTA - PTA Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
February 10: PTA - 4th/5th Volleyball
February 13: Open House - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
February 13: Valentine's Day Classroom Celebrations
February 14: No School
February 17: No School
February 27: Spring Conferences - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
February 28: PTA - Dance with my VIP
March 24 - 28: Spring Break - No School
April 18: No School
May 26: No School
Absences
Please call in or email absences by 8:45 AM. You can call our student absence line (847) 318-4390 (ext 1) is available 24 hours a day, or email Mrs. Linda Berleth at lberleth@d64.org.
If the absence is illness related, please also make sure to include Franklin's nurse, Mrs. Queta Karstens, at qkarstens@d64.org.
Franklin Office Hours
School office hours are from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
School Hours
School Hours (M, T, Th, F): 8:50 am - 3:30 pm
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Lunch: 11:35 - 12:30
4th and 5th Grade Lunch: 12:05 - 1:00
Wednesday School Hours: 8:50 am - 2:40 pm
Wednesday Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Lunch: 11:05 - 12:00
Wednesday 4th and 5th Grade Lunch: 11:35 - 12:30
Half-Day Kindergarten Hours
Kindergarten Hours (M, T, Th, F): 8:50 am - 11:35 am
Kindergarten Wednesday: 8:50 am - 11:05 am
Ramadan
If your student is observing fasting during Ramadan, Franklin provides an alternative, quiet location where they can spend the lunch portion of the lunch/recess hour. If your child would like to use this alternative space during lunch while fasting, please email their homeroom teacher to make arrangements.
The District 64 1:1 Digital Learning Program started in 2014. The purpose of our 1:1 Digital Learning Program is to provide tools and resources to our 21st Century learners.
District 64 is now conducting a comprehensive Student Device Evaluation as part of our 1:1 Digital Learning Program. The goal of this evaluation process is to ensure that our student devices support the district’s vision, mission, and strategic plan, provide learners with access to needed curriculum, and are affordable and sustainable for the future.
We are asking families to complete this survey. Your responses will help inform the District's next steps in regards to our 1:1 Digital Learning Program and student devices.
25-26 School Year Registration
Hard to believe, but we are preparing for registration for the 25-26 school year. Registration opens on January 21st for all returning students and incoming kindergarteners. Please complete your registration as soon as possible as this impacts sections of grade levels and hiring/assignments for teachers.
Winter Recess Gear
As more consistent winter weather approaches, please ensure your child brings appropriate gear to school each day, including winter boots, a coat, gloves, a hat, and snow pants. We strive to have outdoor recess whenever possible, and students without winter boots will need to stay on the blacktop during recess. Please remember to label all of your child's winter gear with their first and last name. Thank you for helping keep our students warm and prepared for the season!
PowerSchool Parent Portal Password Update
District 64 cares about the security of your student's personal information. Effective December 13th, we will be requiring all parents to create a minimum 12-character password for their PowerSchool Parent Portal account. Strong passwords are of the utmost importance - they protect your electronic accounts and devices from unauthorized access, keeping your sensitive personal information safe. The more complex the password, the more protected your information will be from cyber threats and hackers.
Swim for a Cause!
Band Orchestra Parents Association (BOPA) Fundraiser at Goldfish Swim School
Looking for a fun place to bring your kids on their next day off?
Join us for a Swim to Donate!
BOPA Fundraiser at Goldfish SwimSchool
Monday January 20th
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Goldfish Swim School
678 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge
Registration Fee: $10
(ALL proceeds will go directly to D64 Band and Orchestra Parent Association)
SIGN UP HERE- registration required!
*You MUST register ahead using the link above. Only the first 90 registrants will be admitted.
*Children of all ages must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Registration fees can be paid through Zelle @ bopad64@gmail.com at the time of registration and are non-refundable. Please include Swim to Donate in the memo line when submitting payment and be sure to pay for each individual attending (adult and child). You will receive a confirmation email once your registration and payment have been received.
*Enjoy water play, snacks and giveaways!
Questions? Contact Christine Erickson at BOPAd64@gmail.com
Please send a change of clothes with your children for all K-5 students. It is helpful to have a change of clothes in the event of spilled water, accidents, or an unexpected incidents. Clothes should be labeled with your child's name and can be kept in your child's locker. We encourage you to make sure your child's name is on each article of clothing.
Lunch at Franklin
District 64 partners with Quest Food Management Services to provide a high-quality hot lunch program for grades full-day kindergarten through 8th grade. Students who need to go home for lunch must bring a note from a parent to the homeroom teacher each time this need arises; the parent must pick up the student at the school office. On return, the student and parent must report to the office and sign back in before returning to class.
Peanut/nut-safe lunch tables at the elementary schools are designated for allergic children and their friends who opt to abstain from those products. Arrangements at the middle schools are handled on an individual basis to accommodate student needs. Peanut butter and other peanut products may be consumed freely by non-allergic students in each lunchroom. To promote disease prevention, parents are requested to enclose a hand sanitizer wipe in their child’s lunch or backpack for use before eating.
Information on free lunch/milk waiver is available at the bottom of the Pay Student Fees page.
Parents are discouraged from routinely delivering lunch to the office from local restaurants; lunches brought to the office should be reserved for emergency situations, such as a forgotten lunch. Please refrain from sending or dropping off any soda or energy drinks for your students. Thank you for your cooperation.
When Entering The Building
When a parent or guardian arrives to Franklin with or for a student, dropping off items or for a meeting, when ringing the doorbell, please state your name and your student(s) names to support our safety procedures.
All visitors to Franklin must have a valid state ID or driver’s license. Identification is entered into the Raptor identification system. This process only takes a short time to complete. Once you have clearance, the office staff will print a visitor pass for you and attach it to a lanyard you must wear throughout the building. The office will hold your ID until you return to the office and return the lanyard. We appreciate your support as we proceed with this district-mandated safety procedure for the safety of our students.
Issues with A School Device?
If you have are having issues with your student's device at home, please complete a ticket.
https://d64.incidentiq.com/guest/NPV6SRUK/d64-family-tech-support-ticket#top
Payments to School - My School Bucks
Park Ridge-Niles CCSD 64 employs My School Bucks as its payment platform for families. Most
purchases for students, including field trips and student orders. Directors can be found here.
For the health and safety of our students and community, no pets are allowed on school property. We realize the beautiful weather increases the amount of families who are walking to and from school. However, we ask that you please leave your dog or cat at home. Properly identified service animals are always permitted.
Please take a moment to review the contacts section of your ParentPortal. Any adult who has approval for after school pick-up or emergency pick-up for illness/injury should be listed. Franklin staff will not release students to adults who are not listed on the ParentPortal.
Student-Parent Handbook
Franklin Elementary School and all District 64 schools follow policies and practices reviewed and implemented by the District 64 Board of Education. Please review the D64 Student-Parent Handbook before the start of the school year.
You can find frequent updates or snapshots from our days at Franklin on Facebook and Instagram! Follow us at
Facebook: facebook.com/FranklinD64
Instagram: franklin.d64
PTA News
International Night is Thursday, January 30th
Ciao! Mahalo! Γεια σας! Hola! Bonjour! Hello! Здраво! Witam!
Celebrate our diverse Franklin community at one of our most beloved events, if you have not been you are in for a treat! Our families join together to celebrate all cultures through dress, music, performances, and activities.
Sign ups are open on PTA website / Membership Toolkit for the following opportunities:
Performances (dances, songs, demonstrations, etc.) - this is a wonderful aspect of the event and we are in need of performances
General event support - Short time slots are available and a great option for alum who may need service hours
Everyone is invited to participate including family members and former and future students.
Valentine’s Classroom Parties
Valentine's Day parties scheduled for Thursday 2/13.
Kindergarten: 2/13 10:30-11:30
Grades 1-5: 2/13 2:00-3:00
Ms. Mabrito's 1st Grade Class still has 2 party volunteer opportunities available. If interested, sign up on the Franklin PTA website.
Feel free to reach out to Colleen Russell, Room Parent Coordinator with any questions at roomparentcoordinator@franklinpta.com.
Pizza Monday Server Needed!
4th/5th grade Pizza Monday Server Spots Available!! The number of spots and dates available are listed below. Please reach out to Lorena at jazzn1@live.com to reserve a spot as a first come first serve basis. Thanks!
1 spot: 2/3, 3/10, 4/28, 5/5
2 spots: 1/27, 3/17
3 spots: 2/10, 2/24, 3/31, 4/14, 4/21
Buy your tickets for the Winter Dance with My VIP | Friday, February 28th 6 - 8 PM
Franklin is coming down with disco fever this year!
Join your Franklin friends for an evening of dancing and fun, including photo booths and light refreshments.
We invite one adult V.I.P. per household and only current Franklin students may attend the event. Students must be accompanied by their adult V.I.P for the duration of the event; this is not a dropoff event.
Ticket sales dates in the PTA Membership Toolkit / https://www.franklinpta.com/
• PTA member families can buy tickets starting Monday, Jan. 27, 2024 at 9:30 AM
• All other Franklin families can buy tickets starting on Monday, Feb. 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Space is limited for this event so we suggest you purchase your tickets as early as possible.
Please send questions regarding the dance to camille.decicco@gmail.com.
Staff Lunches
The PTA offers teachers and staff members an option to purchase lunch on Mondays from Spuntinos via franklinpta.com. Families are always welcome to show their appreciation for a staff member by purchasing a Monday lunch on their behalf. If this is something your family is interested in doing, please refer to the PTA website for more information.
Questions about teacher and staff lunches can be directed to rebeccavanpoucke@gmail.com.
Missing out on info? We have a FACEBOOK page!
We post reminders, updates, recognition, answer questions &
Help make this community stronger! Join us at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071259407924
Or scan the QR code. MUST BE A PAID PTA MEMBER TO JOIN.
Rainbows for All Children provides peer groups for kids in 1st - 8th grade. These groups provide a safe space for them to share their experiences associated with loss of a loved one and/or a changing family dynamic due to divorce, deployment, etc. Trained facilitators help encourage communication while identifying, navigating and discussing feelings amongst the group. Our next session begins on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025. This free program meets every Tuesday, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, at the Park Ridge Community Church.
Please use this Google Form link to register your child/children and/or to be added to our communications list. Any general questions or interest in volunteering to become a facilitator, please contact rainbows64@att.net . For more general info please visit https://rainbows.org/
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YWOBWEERhlRwR0oLRee2bU1j89cOg4Qp7jEB0yCnS-E/edit